When genuine winters occur, an army of ice anglers descends upon the shoreline of Lake Erie from Sterling State Park near Brest Bay, Michigan, to the Mazurik ramp in Marblehead, Ohio.
On the Ohio mainland, even the spacious parking lots at the Camp Perry National Guard base and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area that collectively hold hundreds of vehicles become filled with ice angler’s rigs whenever the ice is safe between there, West Sister Island, and the reefs.
Farther east, anglers target Mouse, Green and Kelleys Islands from Catawba Island State Park and the Mazurik Ramp. The cove at Catawba Island State Park typically gets the first mainland ice.

All of these mainland ice locations are prone to separating and drifting away during strong southerly winds.
The first, longest and most stable ice normally forms between the Bass Island chain that includes South, Middle and North Bass; Rattlesnake, Green and Ballast Islands — accessible from Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
Put-in-Bay
The Village of Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island switches gears from a quaint drinking town with a fishing problem in the summer, to an ice fishing destination with almost all of the bars closed during the winter.
Many island residents fondly recall the days when legally selling fish caught daily through the ice provided supplemental off-season income.
It has a gas station/carry-out/fishing tackle store, grocery and beverage center, bar/restaurant, hardware store, taxi service and lodging to accommodate its residents and winter visitors.

Going back to the time when ice shanties were pulled with horses, there remains a long tradition of licensed ice guides available for hire in the area. I ran Prime Time Ice Charters for about 15 years until my retirement in 2011. I still spend my winters there, but now just to “fun fish.”
Getting to Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island)
Transportation to the islands is provided by small aircraft departing from the Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport at 3255 East State Street, Port Clinton, Ohio.
Two local companies provide daily trips, weather permitting to Put-in-Bay, Middle Bass, North Bass, Kelleys and Rattlesnake (private) Islands.
Griffing Flying Service owns a fleet of planes and transports most of the passengers, freight and the mail to the islands. Flights can be arranged by calling 419-734-5400. Island Air Taxi also provides flights and can be contacted at 419-573-2960.

Keep in mind that the size of the planes limit anglers to the bare necessities — fishing gear, bait, snacks and appropriate luggage if staying overnight. Rather than pack it, wear your fishing boots and heavy outer clothing.
Portable shanties or large sleds may not fit, and flammable fuels cannot be transported. This eliminates propane heaters and gasoline/propane ice augers. The locals use 10-inch diameter augers since some walleyes will not fit through an 8-inch hole unless it’s doubled or enlarged with a spud bar.
Soft-side coolers that can be stuffed into irregular-shape cargo areas are better than hard plastic or metal coolers. Buckets for shiners and fish finders, and protective ice rod cases are commonly used.
On-Island Transportation
On South Bass, taxi services are available to get from the airport to the ice ramps, and (for those staying overnight) back and forth from the ice to lodging and restaurants.
Ice Fishing Supplies
There are no live bait shops on the island or terminals to buy a fishing license, so licenses should be purchased ahead of time. Buy emerald shiners before heading over. Herb’s Sportsman’s Supply, 1713 N.E. Catawba Road, is the closest to the Port Clinton Airport.
Progression of Normal Ice Formation
Until anglers become familiar with chronically dangerous areas, it would be best to use a guide who is familiar with their locations.
However, here’s how a well-equipped, experienced, “do-it-yourselfer” can participate — with warnings about some of the more egregious ice locations.

Stone’s Cove, adjacent to South Bass Island State Park on the west side, typically gets the island’s first ice. Last winter, one airboat owner went a short distance from shore, set up a pop-up shanty, and caught some walleyes there — the sum total of all of the ice fishing that occurred.
Next, the ice field builds outward toward Green Island as a result of drifting ice floes formed in the earlier-to-cool, shallower, western end of the lake.
Next to appear are sheets of windowpane or shove ice that become wedged into the craggy coves of South Bass and the narrow funnels between there, Rattlesnake and Middle Bass Islands.
These resemble pieces of a jigsaw puzzle as they drift eastward in the ever-present west-to-east current. Lastly, the open water freezes between the pieces.
Even in years with fishable ice, Lake Erie’s ice rarely gets much thicker than 13 to 15 inches. Predictable annual cracks, shove lines and thin spots form over reefs and shoals.
There are twice as many public ice ramps than boat ramps at Put-in-Bay, including: The Downtown Ramp will get you onto Put-in-Bay Harbor’s ice, where underwater vegetation attracts yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, black crappie, white perch, largemouth bass, black bullhead and other occasional surprises.

The water depth in the harbor averages about 12 feet. To the east, outside of the weed beds and Gibraltar Island, it drops deeper than 40 feet in the channel.
Warning! Stay in the harbor between South Bass and Gibraltar Islands. The deep-water channel beyond Gibraltar Island is never considered safe due to its funneled, swift currents that make the ice thickness unpredictable. Also, the west entrance to the harbor is guarded by Peach Point Shoal and other shallow cobblestone bars, which maintain very thin ice above them and have swallowed many recreational vehicles that attempted to cross over them.
The South Bass Island State Park ramp can be used to ice fish between South Bass and Green Island. This ice often initially consists of rough shove ice that improves with local airboat and ATV traffic, rain showers or a brief thaw.
Warning! The cracks that form from the southeast corner of Green Island to the South Bass Island Lighthouse, and from the west side of Green Island to the Rattlesnake Island “Rattles,” are often actively working (opening and closing) and should never be crossed. The ice beyond these cracks frequently disconnects and drifts away with little notice during an east wind.
The “New Ramp” on the west shore of South Bass Island was specifically built for ice fishing access and is the most heavily used ramp to go between South Bass and Rattlesnake Islands.
There are a couple of square miles of ice between this ramp and the south side of Rattlesnake Island, about two miles away.
However, many fish are caught within brief walking distance, near the M/V Benson Ford, formerly a Ford Motor Company freighter, now perched upon the west shore cliffs.
Warning! Roam with caution around Victory Point, just west of the Benson Ford. It has frequently dunked snowmobile and ATV riders rounding this underwater shoal too close to shore. The ice over it thins quickly due to deflected currents when the first warm sunny days arrive, well ahead of the thicker surrounding ice that remains outside of this rocky structure.
The “Old Ramp” is a single paved lane threaded between two houses that is used as an entrance and exit ramp for a marked ice road connecting Middle Bass Island residents to South Bass Island. It also provides a slightly shorter, alternative route to Rattlesnake Island.
Warning! The ice near this ramp is more prone to rapid deterioration from the erosion of ice that expands outward from Peach Point. The shoal, as mentioned previously, defines the western entrance to Put-in-Bay Harbor. Also, if traveling to the north side of Rattlesnake Island, be sure to swing way wide of the southeastern point, which also features an 8-foot-deep underwater shoal that keeps the ice above it chronically thin, often swallowing clueless explorers.
2024 Fishing Prospects
While walleyes are clearly the “money fish” that attracts the majority of the interest from anglers willing to travel great distances to Lake Erie, there are several bonus species that make life interesting whenever a baited line is lowered into its shallow depths.
Walleyes
Despite claims by loyal tourism promoters elsewhere, Lake Erie is the “Walleye Capital of the World.” Need proof?
According to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, there were an estimated 94 million adult walleyes in the Western Basin in 2023, as calculated by the cooperating fisheries agencies of Ohio, Michigan and Ontario.

Based upon surface area, Ohio was allotted 6.9 million of the 13.5 million walleye Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2023. After natural mortality, and sport and commercial (Ontario only) harvest, the 2024 population is expected to be 72 million.
Some walleyes exceeding 30 inches long remain from the massive 2003 year-class, with substantial hatches from 2007, 2010 and 2015 now old enough to also provide trophy fish.
Above average hatches in 2018 and 2019 and a record-high hatch in 2021 will keep catch rates high for years to come, while growing into trophy sizes, too.
The locals are very satisfied with using Swedish Pimples and Jigging Rapalas in sizes #5 to #7, depending upon how much weight is required to keep it within detection of the fish finder’s signal, based on the strength of the current.
With dozens to choose from, I haven’t found a color of Swedish Pimple that won’t catch a walleye, but they will very rarely hit a lure not accompanied with an emerald shiner. Erie’s walleyes are greedy and will readily strike lures dressed with a whole shiner on every treble hook tip.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch are absolutely stuffed with mayfly larvae all winter, so if anyone thinking of targeting this species has access to “Wigglers,” this would be a slam dunk.
Many are caught on the same lures as above, especially while using the smaller size #5 equipped with a trailer or “stinger hook” added, which I assemble according to my specifications.
To add bonus perch to my daily bucket, I use a second deadstick rod equipped with either a small wire spreader and snelled hooks, or a drop shot or “crappie rig” baited with a small or half-size piece of emerald shiner.
White Bass, White Perch & Other Species
Several nontarget species of fish are randomly caught through the ice all season. Nice-size white bass that put up a frisky fight and invasive white perch are frequently caught in high numbers. Some days, I have caught gallons of pesky white perch for the local gulls to feast on.
More channel catfish than steelhead trout, lake whitefish and smelt have been unintentionally hooked in recent years, yet their infrequent appearances do not justify targeting any of these welcomed, bonus species.
Limits & Laws
The laws for transporting fish and/or fillets are simple to follow. Fillets must allow easy species identification, counting and measuring. A single layer in a freezer bag works best.
The walleye limit has a daily limit of six with a 15-inch minimum size. Yellow perch daily limit in the Western Basin is 30.
While there are no formal possession limits, proof of lodging may be asked from anglers found to be in possession of multiple days’ filleted catches.
Will There Be Ice?
Ice cover has been infrequent during the past dozen years. The last substantial ice occurred in 2018, followed by only marginally safe conditions in 2019 and 2021, a short season in 2022, and none at all in 2020 or again last winter (2023).
Unlike some other Midwestern states, Ohio allows year-round walleye fishing. With winters becoming shorter or nonexistent, lately this has meant fishing from boats during all 12 months.
Launching a boat in winter sometimes means dumping salt to get traction or to melt the glaze of ice formed when water is tracked up the ramp.
The prospect of landing a double-digit walleye each trip out during the winter on Lake Erie is tough to ignore — but it is twice as nice to catch them through the ice.
